Flavor Preview: Fish Cakes (Otak Otak Si Dia, Jakarta)

Used to be a white-collar worker for a few years back around Sudirman – Jakarta and it was the time when I had my fun with office canteens, snacks from office pantry, street foods, and also restaurants around working premises. Even with all that fun, one thing that I really miss was the moment when I ascend or descend the lengthy crossing bridges on Sudirman Street only to smell fish cakes wrapped in banana leaves being grilled by the sellers on their bicycles. Just the smell of it drives me crazy, even so I’d rather have real fish cakes back home or bought from a quality vendor instead.

Until one time, I had the chance to taste the 4,000 rupiah worth of fish cake each from Otak Otak Si Dia. Yes, it’s a catchy name but it does sell good stuffs. Made from a mixture paste between mackerel and Asiatic spices, these otak otak has always been a great choice anytime anywhere. Otak Otak Si Dia’s version has exactly what I need from fish cake – right degree of chewiness, grilled moderately, fragrant, and dense, making the every bite of it fulfilling. Moreover, the fish cakes came with two kinds of sauce – spicy red chili sauce with vinegar and the original peanut sauce. It’s a treat indeed as most fish cakes are only accompanied with peanut sauce only.

Oh how they can mix up these unusually set of characters in the sauces with their ever-tempting fish cakes. It may be a tad too spicy with the red sauce so all you got to do is just dunk it in with the original sauce, or simply have it your own way. A box full of delights was delivered overnight but all it took was just for 10 minutes for us here at home to savor it completely.

Now that I’m talking about it, I’m gonna have to order some again soon! Can’t wait to have my snacking time again with these babies.

Just go to Palembang, ask around for the best pempek shop. Even if you don’t find the “best” place, as long as it’s made with belida fish it will taste much better than otak2 made with tengiri. The difference between belida and tenggiri? It’s like high-grade wagyu vs normal beef.

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After an unmissable hotel breakfast, there will always be time for brunch. Looking out for the nearest coffee shop from Esplanade, the name Kith Cafe suddenly popped out from my notes and off I went to Dhoby Ghaut.

Heading out to the surface, it’s fairly easy to reach this place. Just direct yourself across the street to Park Mall and the cafe can found just out of the mall and aside to the taxi lane.

Kith Cafe is a full-fledged cafe dedicated for modern, casual breakfast and up to supper time offerings. From healthy to big breakfast, toast, salad, pizza, and steak; Kith Cafe has it all but watch for the serving time. For instance, the breakfast menu will only be available until 5pm and starters like soup or salad will only start from 11am.

My option that day went for the pancakes. It is with hope that the pan was probably less used than others because many dishes here contain pork. So I got myself two huge pancakes, mixed berries, a scoop of honey mascarpone, and a really nice and buttery maple syrup.

It’s a refreshing brunch and I ordered a cup of long black as the companion. The price was quite hefty and you can have more affordable breakfast somewhere else. It’s because Singapore has this huge margin between eating in hawkers and casual cafe, unlike in Indonesia. To top that problem, my useless country’s currency is way weaker when compared with Sing dollars. It’s getting tougher to spend for nicer things in this country as Indonesians.

Nonetheless, I enjoyed my brunch so much and it was okay with the coffee. I’d like to try more but too many porkie dorkie stuff here sih, so we’ll see.

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Let’s not get into the details of why it became famous worldwide and that it all started in 1949 Chicago. We skip history lesson for now so that we can go straight to these marvelous creatures!

It was probably the one and only stunning popcorn in the whole universe, ain’t afraid to admit that it was my very first, and I pretty much would like to ask anybody to bring the store to Indonesia (please!) or just take me to Singapore again for it.

With a taste as wonderful as their CheeseCorn, you won’t actually have to add another melted butter at 21 Cineplex or even bother with other flavors, especially the sweet. I never actually like the sweet flavored popcorn, although Garrett provides good caramel corns and the “yeah, okay” butter popcorn, but their CheeseCorn defines the subject behind what it’s meant to be “addictive”.

The sharp taste of the cheddar, the beautiful round shape, and the warmth of the first bite changes everything. If they allowed everybody to eat in subway, the tin will long be emptied before I even return to the hotel.